The Anguish of Independence for 10 Month Babies
During the baby’s first six or seven months of life, the baby was stuck to you land did not have any consciousness of his or her independence. This is why anybody could carry him or her and the baby would smile at strangers. However, from the eighth month on everything starts to change. The baby recognizes him or herself as an individual person independent from his or her mother, and realizes that strangers exist and are more selective with their smiles. This anxiety can become manifested in many ways, for example when the baby cries because you are leaving the house or when you leave the baby’s sight for a little while. In this case, it is important that the person taking care of the baby knows the baby well and is able to calm him or her down, which generally happens after a few minutes.
During the night at this age babies might wake up more frequently at night, just to make sure you are in the house. If this happens, go to your baby’s room and talk to him or her softly without taking the baby out of the crib. Dad can also calm the baby down, although sometimes only the mother can console the baby in these occasions.
Advice for This Moment (10th Month)
- Each time mom or dad leave the house and the baby stays, you should explain it to the baby and let him or her know that you are leaving but that you will be back. In other words you will always need to say goodbye always because babies at this age can understand our messages. Never just walk or sneak out of the house.
- If you are in the house and you leave for a little while, you should tell the baby “mommy is going to the bathroom, I’ll be right back”, and if the baby cries, talk to him or her from a distance as hearing your voice will calm the baby down.
- At this stage, babies love playing with things to cover and things that appear, as well as covering themselves and then showing themselves, this will help the baby to process absences and presences.
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